# IT Asset Management

## IT Asset Management: Features and Capabilities

[![Software Inventory Report | IT Asset Management](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/images/it-asset-management-dashboard.jpg)](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/images/it-asset-management-dashboard.png)

Using Endpoint Central, you can manage both [hardware](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/hardware-inventory.html) and [software](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/software-inventory.html) assets from a single console, seamlessly. With Endpoint Central's mobile app, **you can manage the assets in your network anywhere, anytime, from your mobile phone**. Here is a complete list of features offered by Endpoint Central for a comprehensive [IT asset management](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/it-asset-management.html):

- [Periodic Asset Scans](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/it-asset-management.html#periodic-asset-scans)
- [Hardware Warranty Management](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/it-asset-management.html#hardware-warranty-management)
- [Real Time Inventory Alerts](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/it-asset-management.html#real-time-alerts)
- [Software Metering](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/it-asset-management.html#software-metering)
- [Software License Management](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/it-asset-management.html#software-license-management)
- [Software and Hardware Inventory](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/it-asset-management.html#inventory)
- [File Scanning](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/it-asset-management.html#file-scanning)
- [Prohibit Software and Block Executables](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/it-asset-management.html#prohibit-software)

### Periodic Asset Scans

[![Asset Scan Report | IT Asset Management](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/images/scheduling-asset-scan.jpg)](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/images/scheduling-asset-scan.png)

In today's fast-paced world, devices are replaced or upgraded within the blink of an eye, at an alarming frequency. It is your job as an IT Administrator to keep track of all these changes/additions and ensure that *only authorized devices are connected to your network*. Endpoint Central scans your network periodically to fetch software and hardware inventory details and detect any changes in your network. You can perform asset scanning in Endpoint Central in the following ways:

1. **On-Demand Asset Scan**  
   You can initiate an asset scan anytime, anywhere and once it is completed, a detailed report will be sent to the configured mail id.
2. **Scheduled Asset Scan**  
   An asset scan can be scheduled to take place at a configurable time and frequency and it will be initiated automatically according to the details specified. The report will be sent to the mail id mentioned in the configuration.

### Hardware Warranty Management

Keeping track of hardware warranty can help you save unnecessary maintenance costs. Endpoint Central automatically detects warranty details for Dell, Lenovo, Toshiba and HP devices and has pre-configured reports for computers with about-to-expire warranty and computers for which the warranty has expired already.

### Real Time Inventory Alerts

[![Hardware Warranty Report | IT Asset Management](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/images/email-alerts.jpg)](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/images/email-alerts.png)

You can set up real-time notifications for whenever a new software is installed, a hardware component is added/removed, software is under licensed or is being used after license expiry, commercial software is installed/uninstalled, disk space on a computer falls below a specified percentage, and more in just a few clicks.

### Software Metering

You can *cut down on significant expenses* by monitoring the usage of commercial software, and ensuring that you're using the licenses efficiently. With End Central, you can view detailed reports and determine whether the software usage justifies the cost, which helps you make informed procurement decisions.

### Software License Management

[![Software License Optimization | IT Asset Management](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/images/license-management.jpg)](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/images/license-management.png)

Ensuring you're license compliant at all times can help you *steer clear of hefty non-compliance fines* during a software audit. Endpoint Central makes this process a whole lot easier by detecting your compliance status automatically. When a software is found to be under licensed, you can either add more licenses or uninstall the software from required number of computers using Endpoint Central's [mobile app](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/desktop-management-mobile-app.html).

### Software and Hardware Inventory

Staying up-to-date and informed about the assets present in your network empowers you to make data-backed decisions about acquiring new assets, which will lead to cutting unnecessary expenses. Endpoint Central offers in-depth reports on both software and hardware assets alongwith all the relevant metrics, and this information is **easily accesible from your mobile phone**, using Endpoint Central's [mobile app](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/desktop-management-mobile-app.html).

### File Scanning

[![Security Certificate Management dashboard | IT Asset Management](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/images/file-scan.jpg)](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/images/file-scan.png)

Gain visibility on the type of files present in your network by setting up rules and scheduling scans. You can set up file scan rules (audio, video, documents, etc) and determine how much space is being occupied by these files. If required, you can notify users to delete unnecessary files on computers with low free disk space.

### Prohibit Software and Block Executables

As a system administrator, you need to ensure that none of the computers have any prohibited software installed on them. Using Endpoint Central, you can prohibit software and add an auto uninstall policy within a few clicks. You also have the option to notify the user and request them to uninstall the software on their own. In some cases, malicious software doesn't need to be installed on the computer and can be run from an external drive. To prevent the usage of such applications, you can block these executables. This will prevent the application from being executed which will in turn prevent attacks/data breaches.

## IT Asset Management - Best Practices

Because of the sheer number of assets in enterprises, IT asset management can be intimidating. Here are a few best practices you can weave into your existing asset management strategy to ensure optimum results:

1. Keep redefining and evolving your strategy. IT asset management is not a destination, it's a process and needs to be treated as such.
2. Set up real time notifications for any hardware/software changes within your network, so that you can detect anomalies and remediate right away.
3. Before renewing the license for a commercial software, analyse the usage statistics thoroughly to ensure that you buy only what is required.
4. Enable real-time alerts for:
   - When the license status is under-compliant
   - When a commercial software is installed/uninstalled within your network
   - When the license for a commercial software is about to expire